© ATOM 2013 A STUDY GUIDE BY ROBERT LEWIS
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-362-5 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au The six episodes of Building Australia explore what the film’s press kit calls ‘the hidden history of our houses’. In each half-hour episode, presenter John Doyle looks at the nature of a different type of housing style from around the country and asks: Why have we built the way we have? How has Australia shaped the Australian house? And how has the Australian house shaped the lives and culture of Australians?
The job of building Australia is, of course, ongoing, but in history of Australia through the lives of ordinary people. six episodes John Doyle charts the journey so far. His per- We all influence the homes we occupy and are influenced spective privileges the building that matters most to all of by them; Amongst many others Building Australia answers us – the home. His observations and his conversations with these six fascinating questions: a range of experts, enthusiasts and home owners around the country offer insight and commentary on how, in build- • Why did we import the terrace-house style into colonial ing the Australian house, we have both created and been society? created by a unique set of values, priorities and solutions. • Why do Queenslanders build Queenslanders? • How did homesteads develop in remote areas? The built landscape of Australia is dominated by houses. • Why did weekenders become so popular?
How they were built, the materials that were used, the • Where did the Federation style come from? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 designs and the architectural innovations and influences tell • Why were project homes so important in post–World us about our economy and the development of our country. War Two Australia? Most of all, they tell us about ourselves; they describe the
2 BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM
House styles have changed in Australia over time. A B
Opposite are some of the main styles. They are not in the correct chrono- logical order. Place them in what you think is the correct order and identify the name or style of each. You can check you answer on the last page. C D The styles and approximate dates of their popularity are:
• Californian Bungalow (1915–1940) • Colonial Georgian (1788–1850) • Federation (1901–1920) • Homestead (1810–1920) • Late Victorian (1870–1890) • Modern project home E F (1950–1960) • Ocean Liner (1930–1950) • Post-war (1945–1960) • Queenslander style (1860–1920) • Spanish Mission (1920–1940) • Terrace House (1790–1890) • Victorian Italianate (1850–1890) G H EXPLORING IDEAS AND ISSUES IN THE FILM
Please see the following pages for activies.
I J
CURRICULUM APPLICABILITY Building Australia is a resource that can be used K L in Australian Curriculum History Years 9 and 10 to explore: identity;
environment; SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 ideas; innovations; economy. It can also be used in Media Studies as a case study of the documentary style.
3 EPISODE 1
PHOTOS EPISODE 1: LOWER FORT STREET (PHOTOS SIMON CARDWELL) THE TERRACE
The first episode looks at inner-city characteristics of the Australian ter- living. Beginning with the speculative race, such as the wrought-iron that developments in Lower Fort Street in remains, to this day, the terrace’s most the Rocks area in Sydney and later conspicuous decorative element. moving to Melbourne’s neatly organ- ised squares, we trace the earliest 1 Harbour Master’s House development of the terrace from the (Lower Fort Street, Sydney) people who landed with the First Fleet and initiated the tradition of European- 1.1 When was this terrace built? Why? style building. 2.2 Who commissioned this building? 1.2 Who commissioned this terrace? Of course, terrace housing was not 2.3 Who lived there? limited to the distinctions between 1.3 Who lived in it? Sydney sandstone and Melbourne 2.4 What does this tell us about early bluestone; there were humble workers 1.4 It is an example of ‘speculative colonial society? cottages linked in the same way. We building’. What does this mean? note these in the inner cities but also 3 Paddington terrace in the once-important mining town of 1.5 Where did the terrace style come (Paddington, Sydney) Burra in South Australia, where terrace from? housing began with dugouts along the 3.1 What are the ‘iconic’ features of banks of the creek. 1.6 Why was it adopted here? this terrace house?
We learn about the expedience and 1.7 Why did it not take into account 3.2 Who lived there? economy of terrace building that local conditions? contradicts the status of the inner-city 3.3 How does its past illustrate social terrace today, as well as the reasons 2 George Morris’ terraces change over time? behind the side entrances and rear (Lower Fort Street, Sydney) laneways that gave essential access 4 Workers’ cottages to so-called utilities prior to mains 2.1 When were these terraces built? (Birchgrove, Sydney) plumbing. And we discover the unique 4.1 Who originally lived in these terraces?
4.2 Why were they built so close together? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 4.3 How did they use space effectively?
4.4 Why would they have been popu- lar housing when they were built?
4 8.2 Who lived there?
8.3 How did they reflect this wealth?
8.4 How does their history illustrate social change over time?
9 St. Vincent Place (Melbourne)
9.1 Who lived there?
9.2 How does this terrace contrast company not happy with the Creek with the older Sydney ones? Street houses? Conclusions 6.2 Who lived there? The presenter claims that the story 6.3 How were these houses an im- of Australian houses ‘tells us who we provement for the inhabitants? were and who we are’.
7 Ayers House (Adelaide) 1 What do you now understand to be (NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA, SOUTH the key features of terrace houses in AUSTRALIA) Australia?
7.1 Who lived there? 2 What does this episode on terrace houses help us understand about the 7.2 How did he change the terrace following aspects of Australian colonial house? society and history?
5 Creek Street Dugouts 7.3 How does this house show social (Burra, South Australia) and economic equality in this place (NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA, BURRA BRANCH) and time?
5.1 Why were these houses built 8 Tasma Terrace (Melbourne) here? (NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA)
5.2 Who lived there? 8.1 What led to the building of these terraces in Melbourne? 5.3 Why were these houses built in this way?
5.4 How do they show inequality in SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 Australian society?
6 Paxton Square Cottages (Burra, South Australia) (NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA, BURRA BRANCH)
6.1 Why was the Burra mining 5 EPISODE 1 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
6 EPISODE 2
PHOTOS EPISODE 2: GOLDSTON HOUSE (PHOTOS DAVID HARBUTT © BEARCAGE TELEVISION)
THE QUEENSLANDER given for raising the house above the ground – was it air circulation, flood From the inner city, we move to con- mitigation, or simply expediency? We sider how Australians have adapted to cover the depredations of the white a climate with which most were initially ant and the various solutions that unfamiliar. railway house to a literally itinerant were thrown at that ongoing problem. dwelling in Longreach, this episode Finally, we move to the Top End to Archive journals reveal how unpre- explores the gradual adaptation to life examine the introduction of an Asian pared the pioneers were for the in the tropics and the evolution of one influence on Australian housing, one tropics. So, from a suburban Brisbane of Australia’s most iconic houses. that has survived the bombings of residence to a Bundaberg sugar World War Two, the devastation of plantation, and from a Rockhampton We survey the conflicting reasons Cyclone Tracy and the assaults of property developers.
1 Rangemoor (Brisbane)
1.1 What is a ‘Queenslander’?
1.2 When was this house built?
1.3 What are the main materials used in building a Queenslander?
1.4 What are the three key features of SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 the Queenslander in response to the environment?
1.5 What elements are innovative?
1.6 Who lived there?
7 5 Burnett House (Darwin) (NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA, NORTHERN TERRITORY)
5.1 Who lived there?
5.2 How does this house reflect the typical features of a Queenslander?
5.3 What other influences are found in it?
5.4 How does the humidity of Darwin influence the way people live in this Queenslander?
5.5 What other innovations did this 3.4 How does it not suit them? house have?
3.5 Why were fireplaces included? Conclusions
3.6 How does this house reflect sugar The presenter claims that the story plantation society? of Australian houses ‘tells us who we were and who we are’. 4 Goldston House (Rockhampton, Queensland) 1 What do you now understand to 2 Langenbaker House be the key features of Queenslander (Ilfracombe, Queensland) 4.1 Who lived there? houses in Australia?
2.1 Who lived there? 4.2 Why was this house built here? 2 What does this episode on Queenslander houses help us under- 2.2 Why was timber an important ele- 4.3 How was it innovative? stand about the following aspects ment in Queenslander homes? of Australian colonial society and 4.4 How does it suit the climate and history? 2.3 Why is a Queenslander so easily environment? able to be transported?
2.4 Why did this make them valuable in Queensland’s economy?
3 Fairymead House (Bundaberg, Queensland) SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 3.1 Who lived there?
3.2 Where did ideas for this house come from?
3.3 How does this house suit the climate and environment? 8 EPISODE 2 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
9 PHOTOS THIS PAGE: CAMDEN PARK HOUSE (PHOTOS SIMON CARDWELL © BEARCAGE TELEVISION)
EPISODE 3 THE HOMESTEAD
The third episode investigates the style of probably the most romantic form of Australian house. As we learn from Camden Park (a grand house built in the Palladian style), the initial impulse was to build ‘country homes’ that replicated the fashions and the asser- tions of a class system derived from England. But, as we see at Lanyon Homestead, it was not long before the design principles of the Australian homestead started to emerge.
The homestead is unique among Australian houses as it is inextricably tied to the workplace. Central to a working property homesteads are, traditionally, expected to pass through the generations; Camden Park is still in the hands of the descendants of those who commissioned it in 1831. From a contrasting homestead in image of a homestead. Located in the Woolmers in Tasmania has a similarly north Queensland, which gives us an isolated Western Australian Wheatbelt, long association with its founding fam- insight into how a forward-looking this homestead remains just as remote ily and is a rich repository of stories family brought their house – and the today and tells us stories of pioneer- about how houses were built, staffed farm – with them into the twentieth ing in harsh conditions and making a and managed with assigned convict century, we go to our last stop, which home that had to offer hospitality to labour. brings us to perhaps the most iconic travellers as well as family.
1 Camden Park (Camden South, NSW)
1.1 Who lived there? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
1.2 How were local materials used?
1.3 What was it modelled on? Why?
1.4 How was it innovative?
10 PHOTOS THIS PAGE: LANYON HOMESTEAD (PHOTOS IRENE DOWDY © BEARCAGE TELEVISION)
2 Lanyon Homestead (ACT)
2.1 When was this homestead built?
2.2 Who lived there?
2.3 How did it use local materials? Why?
2.4 How did the homestead adapt to local conditions?
2.5 How does it show social differ- Conclusions ences or distinctions within the com- munity there? The presenter claims that the story 4.5 How does it show the role of gen- of Australian houses ‘tells us who we 3 Woolmers Estate der in society at this time? were and who we are’. (Longford, TAS) 5 Mangowine Homestead 1 What do you now understand to 3.1 When was this homestead (Nungarin, WA) be the key features of homesteads in created? (NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA, WA) Australia?
3.2 Who lived there? 5.1 When was this homestead built? 2 What does this episode on home- Why? steads help us understand about the 3.3 How did it use the convict system following aspects of Australian colonial to help create and run it? 5.2 Who lived there? society and history?
3.4 How does it show social differ- 5.3 How did it use local materials? ences or distinctions within the com- munity there? 5.4 How was it influenced by changes to the local economy? 3.5 What does it show about gender in colonial society? 5.5 What does it tell us about isolation in Australia? 4 Greenmount Homestead (Mackay, Queensland)
4.1 When was this homestead built?
4.2 Who lived there? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
4.3 How did it adapt to the climate and environment?
4.4 How does it challenge the usual image of ‘White Australia’?
11 EPISODE 3 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
12 THE WEEKENDER
Up until now, we have looked at hous- es that were permanent residences. But, as the labour movement agitated for fair working conditions – including paid holidays and the five-day week – leisure was on people’s minds. The fourth episode tells the story of what many did with their leisure – they built and, when they could, retreated to EPISODE weekenders. 4 From the tradition of bush carpentry seen in Brayshaw’s Hut (a turn-of-the- century grazier’s lodgings in the alpine area of Namadgi National Park), we see the weekender’s make-do origins and its development as weekenders were established to service the alpine leisure pursuits that later caught on around Mount Kosciuszko.
There is, of course, fibro on the beach 1 Brayshaw’s Hut (Namadgi and kit homes made from recycled National Park, ACT) materials, but the weekender is also the story of ‘the shack on wheels’, 1.1 When was this hut built? as better cars and better roads saw the rise of caravanning in Australia. 1.2 Who lived there? As times got tougher and building regulations got stricter, the golden age 1.3 How did it use local materials? of the shack passed, but for many the PHOTOS EPISODE 4: NAVAL BASE HOLIDAY SHACK indelible memories of time spent in the 1.4 Why were so few other materials (PHOTOS BOHDAN WARCHOMIJ © BEARCAGE TELEVISION) weekend getaway are as formative as used? any other memories of ‘home’. 1.5 Who would have used this place? Why? 2 Naval Base Shacks (Henderson, outskirts of Perth)
2.1 When was this place established?
Why? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
2.2 Who lived there?
2.3 Why has it survived?
2.4 How has the local environment changed? 13 3 Currawong Workers’ Cottages (Currawong Beach, NSW)
3.1 When was this place built? Why?
3.2 Who lived there?
3.3 What social conditions made it possible?
4 Orcades (Patonga, NSW)
4.1 When was this place built? Why?
4.2 Who lived there?
4.3 How does it show the use of a new type of building material?
4.4 What social conditions made it possible? 6.2 Who lived in them? 5 Keebles Hut (Kosciuszko National Park, NSW) 6.3 How did they show the use of a new type of building material? 5.1 When was this place built? Why? 6.5 What social conditions made them 5.2 Who lived there? more popular? 5.4 Why were so few other materials 5.3 How did it use local materials? used? 6.6 What social conditions are influ- encing the development of caravan 5.5 What social conditions made it parks? possible? PHOTOS EPISODE 4: RESTORED CARAVAN (PHOTOS Conclusions SIMON CARDWELL © BEARCAGE TELEVISION) 6 Caravans The presenter claims that the story 6.1 When did the caravan start to be of Australian houses ‘tells us who we built in Australia? Why? were and who we are’.
1 What do you now understand to
be the key features of weekenders in SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 Australia?
2 What does this episode on week- enders help us understand about the following aspects of Australian colonial society and history?
14 EPISODE 4 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
15 EPISODE 5
THE FEDERATION HOUSE
Alfred Deakin was Australia’s second prime minister and is often called the ‘Father of Federation’. His bungalow, ‘Balllara’, tells the story of the optimism and confidence that powered the movement to make Australia an independent nation. This PHOTOS EPISODE 5: CHADWICK HOUSE national idealism was reflected in the (PHOTOS BILL GREEN © BEARCAGE TELEVISION) assured, even showy architecture of the Federation house.
The Federation style created a fusion affluence and the growth of population Victoria’s Eaglemont), the suburbs of many genres, such as Arts & Crafts, – into the suburbs. Once reserved for were opening up to the working class. Queen Anne and Spanish Mission, the wealthy, wishing to escape the which coloured the landscape of bustle of the city (as represented in In Australia’s first planned suburb, urban Australia as it spread – with the ostentatious Chadwick House in Dacey Gardens in New South Wales, we visit the modest Federation Californian Bungalows built to house returning servicemen after World War One. Here, Federation can be seen as a style that took from different movements around the world and turned them into something unique and uniquely Australian. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
16 the idea of Australia as an egalitarian nation?
5 Belvedere (Cremorne, NSW)
5.1 When was this house built?
5.2 Who lived there?
5.3 What were its main features?
5.4 How was the bungalow a response to the new way of living in the post-war era, where servants were scarce and expensive?
6 The Fishwick House (Castlecrag, NSW)
6.1 When was this house built?
6.2 Who built it?
6.3 Who lived there?
1 Ballara, Alfred Deakin’s 3 Appian Way (Burwood, 6.4 What are its main features? holiday house (Point Sydney) Lonsdale, VIC) 6.5 Does this settlement challenge 3.1 When was this estate built? the idea of Australia as an egalitarian 1.1 When was this house built? nation? 3.2 What does it tell us about the ideal 1.2 Who lived there? of suburban life in Australia? Conclusions
1.3 What were the main new features 3.3 Who was supposed to live here? The presenter claims that the story of this style of house? of Australian houses ‘tells us who we 3.4 Does this settlement challenge were and who we are’. 1.4 How did the house reflect the the idea of Australia as an egalitarian personalilty of the owners? nation? 1 What do you now understand to be the key features of Federation houses 2 Chadwick House 4 Daceyville (Sydney) in Australia? (Eaglemont, VIC)
4.1 When was this estate built? 2 What does this episode on SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 2.1 When was this house built? Federation houses help us understand 4.2 What does it tell us about the ideal about the following aspects of 2.2 Who lived there? of suburban life in Australia? Australian colonial society and history? 2.3 How does this house reflect 4.3 Who was supposed to live here? the main features of the Federation house? 4.4 Does this settlement challenge 17 EPISODE 5 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
18 EPISODE 6
PHOTOS THIS PAGE: ROSE SEIDLER HOUSE (PHOTOS SIMON CARDWELL © BEARCAGE TELEVISION)
THE PROJECT HOUSE
While houses from the decommis- sioned air force base in Tocumwal, New South Wales – delivered via truck to Canberra – went some way toward addressing the housing crisis in our nation’s capital, with post-war to the Beachcombers of Nino Sydney 1.3 How did they help solve these immigration and the baby boom the (himself a post-war immigrant), this problems? rest of Australia needed some 400,000 is the story of how Australia man- new homes. aged to house us all. It is the story of 1.4 Who lived in them? the twenty-five years that were most The final episode of Building Australia influential in shaping the Australia we 2 Rose Seidler House tells the story of how factory-built live in today. (Wahroonga, NSW) houses and project homes met this immense demand for housing and, to 1 Tocumwal Houses 2.1 When was this house built? a degree, reflected both the taste for (Canberra, ACT) ‘modernity’ and the preferences of the 2.2 Who lived there? ‘New Australians’ who moved into the 1.1 What were the problems facing spreading suburbs. housing after the Second World War? 2.3 How was it revolutionary?
From the once-revolutionary dis- 1.2 What were the key features of this 2.4 Why is it a significant house? play village of Kingsdene Estate in style of house? Carlingford, to Ken Woolley’s Lowlines, 3 Manning Clark House (Canberra, ACT)
3.1 Who lived there?
3.2 What is the significance of this house? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
19 PHOTOS THIS PAGE: BEACHCOMBER (PHOTOS SIMON CARDWELL © BEARCAGE TELEVISION)
Conclusions
The presenter claims that the story of Australian houses ‘tells us who we were and who we are’.
1 What do you now understand to be the key features of project houses in Australia?
2 What does this episode on project houses help us understand about the 5 Beachcomber following aspects of Australian colonial (Blue Mountains, NSW) society and history?
5.1 What were the main features of this house?
5.2 Who lived there?
5.3 How was it significant? 3.3 What are its main features?
4 Kingsdene Estate (Carlingford, NSW)
4.1 What was the significance of this estate? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
4.2 Who lived there?
4.3 What does this settlement tell us about the idea of Australia as an egali- tarian nation?
20 EPISODE 6 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013
21 FILM STUDY Is Building Australia a good documentary?
A documentary film uses a variety of elements and strategies to have an impact.
1. Why have the filmmakers called this series a “hidden” history? THE HOUSE STYLES ARE: 2. Consider the way the following A Ocean Liner G Spanish elements are used in Building (1930–1950) Mission Australia. Use your own viewing (1920–1940) of the film and the interviews that B Californian follow to summarise your ideas. Bungalow H Post-war 3. Look at this trailer for Building (1915–1940) (1945–1960) Australia: C Victorian I Federation commission/books/ourhouse/ SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 intro.html> 22 ASPECT COMMENTS SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 23 PURCHASE OF DVDS: PH: 02 6248 0851 RONIN FILMS FAX: 02 6249 1640 P.O. Box 680 WEB: http://www.roninfilms.com.au Mitchell, ACT 2911 EMAIL: [email protected] AUSTRALIA This study guide was produced by ATOM. (© ATOM 2013) ISBN: 978-1-74295-362-5 [email protected] For information on SCREEN EDUCATION magazine, or to download other study guides for assessment, visit